Rape of Persephone c. 1685 - 1690

Pietro da Cortona rendered "The Rape of Persephone" with pen and brown ink, encapsulating a pivotal moment from classical mythology. Here, we witness Hades abducting Persephone, a scene fraught with symbolic weight. The god of the underworld, a crown atop his head, carries her away in his chariot, pulled by powerful horses. The abduction motif appears across epochs, echoing in ancient Greek vases and Renaissance paintings alike. In Ovid’s Metamorphoses, the narrative emphasizes Persephone's innocence and the sudden violence of her capture. The weeping nymphs present in the scene remind us of the emotional undercurrent, reflecting a deep-seated fear of loss and change. Consider how this scene resonates through time. Bernini's sculpture captures a similar dynamic, yet each artist interprets the myth through their cultural lens. Persephone's struggle symbolizes the cycle of seasons—her descent into the underworld bringing winter, her return, spring. The emotional power of the image lies in its depiction of the eternal themes of love, loss, and rebirth, engaging us on a profound, subconscious level.